Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
BACK&~OUND OF THE INVENTION
2 1. Field of the Inven~ion
3 This application relates to water and wastewater ~reatment operations.
4 More particularly, it concerns improved systems and methods for the h~nt11ing
and transfer of sludge generated in water and wastewater treatment
6 operations.
7 2. Descnptiolt of ~he PnorArt
8 Large quantities of sludge are created daily in the treatment of water
g and wastewater. Accordingly, a constant problem exists in the handling and
utilization ~nd/or disposal of such sludge. By way of example of the problem,
11 reference is made to a water clarifier system marketed by the assignee of this
2 invention under the trademark DensaDeg~9 in which settled solids (sludge)
3 must be transferred f~om a clarifier back into an upstream reactor. The
14 DensaDeg~3 systems are disclosed in an Infilco Degremont Inc. brochure DB-
555 entitled Densa~eg~ High Ra~e Clanrer and Thickener, dated March 1990,
16 the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
7 In the operation of the DensaDeg~ systems, substantially large
8 quantities of fluid sludge must be recycled for chemical reactions to go to19 completion. Typically, such recycle transfer is accomplished by the use of
2 o external, mechanical pumps. Other water or wastewater treatment operations
21 exist in which solids collected as stratified entities must be transferred from
2 2 one chamber to another, e.g., biological treatment systems wherein biological
23 floc is recycled back from a clarifier to a biological contractor (activated
2 4 sludge treatment). Hence, the term sludge as used in this disclosure and the
2 5 accompanying claims is intended to cover not only water treatment sludge per
26 se, but equivalent fluid solid material stratified layers that are transferred
2 7 from one chamber to another in water and wastewater treatment operations.
28 The present invention provides unique arrangements and methods for
29 meeting these sludge transfer requirements while greatly reducing the cost of
3 o the previously know equipment and energy demands.
31 OBJECI S
3 2 A principal object of the invention is the provision o~ improvements in33 sludge transfer systems and me$hods associated ~.vith water and wastewater
3 4 treatment operations.
Further objects include the provision of:
2 1. Improvements in sludge transfer systems that substantially
3 reduce the cost of component parts thereof.
4 2. Improvements in sludge transfer methods that substantially
reduce the amount of ener~y required for carrying out such methods.
6 3. Improvements ;n sludge transfer systems that mitigate upkeep
7 and repair costs and render them more reliable in operation.
8 4. Improvements in sludge transfer methods that make it easier to
g monitor their operation.
0 5. Ill~pluvelllents in sludge transfer systems that minimize the
11 number of moving equipment components thereo~
12 Other objects and further scope of applicability of the present
3 invention will become apparent from the detailed descriptions given herein; it
4 should be understood, however, that the detailed descriptions, while indicating
~lerell~d embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only,
16 since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the
7 invention will become apparent from such descriptions.
18 SUMMARY OF THE INV~NTION
19 The objects are accomplished in accordance with the invention by the
provision of i~ uvel~lents in sludge transfer systems that include a first
21 chamber in which a layer of fluid sludge is formed in the base thereof during
2 2 operation of the system, a second chamber in which an influent of sludge from
23 the first chamber is processed and conduit means for collv~ying a stream of24 fluid sludge that connects the first chamber wi~h the second chamber to
convey a stream of the fluid sludge from the first chamber to the second
2 6 chamber.
27 The improvements of the invention, in part, comprise providing sludge
2 8 transfer means within the first chamber which includes a stackpipe extending
2 9 vertically from an inlet at the lower end thereof to an outlet at the upper end
thereof and large bubble generator means for generating an upward flow of
31 fluid sludge in the stackpipe when the lower end is immersed in the layer of
3 2 fluid sludge.
3 3 The top of the stackpipe is closed and the outlet therein is defined by3 4 at least one longitudinal opening in the side of the stackpipe that extends from
adjacent the top downwards along the stackpipe a length ~. Such longitudinal
opening may be a continuous slot or a row of holes.
2 An elongated, tubular sleeve including a top end of length at least D
3 slidably embraces the upper end of the stackpipe and means is associated with
4 the upper end of the stackpipe for vertically raising and lowering it within the
sleeve between a low position wherein its longitudinal opening is completely
6 covered by the sleeve to a high position wherein a substantial portion of the
7 longitudinal opening extends above the top of the sleeve.
8 The bubble generator means is connected to a source of l,rcs~uliG~d
g air to create the required large bubbles by a tubular conduit, a portion ofwhich is flexible to assist the bubble generator means to raise and lower along
11 with the stackpipe.
12 A collector box is included to receive fluid sluclge that issues from the
13 upper end of the stackpipe. Such box is defined by sidewal]s and a bottom
14 through which the sleeve extends a distance such that its top end is below the
vertical height of the box sidewalls.
6 A tubular conduit or like means connects the collector box to the
17 conduit means to enable fluid sludge received in the box to enter the conduit
8 means and be conveyed as influent to the second chamber.
19 The invention also includes i~ lovclllents in sludge transfer methods
2 o wherein a layer of fluid sludge is formed during operation of the method in the
21 base of a first chamber beneath a body of liquid partially filling the first
22 chamber to an upper liquid level. Fluid sludge from the first chamber is
23 processed in a second chamber and a stream of the fluid sludge is conveyed
2 4 by conduit means from the first chamber as influent to the second chamber.
The method improvements of the invention comprise creating an
2 6 upward flow of fluid sludge from the layer thereof through a vertical stackpipe
27 having a top portion, a base portion and a bottom inlet end by introducing
2 8 large bubbles within the stackpipe base portion while the inlet end is
29 immersed in the layer of fluid sludge. The upward flow of fluid sludge is
discharged through an elongated, longitudinal side opening in the top portion
31 of the stackpipe into a collector zone at least a portion of which is at a vertical
32 height above the upper liquid level. The rate of the discharge of fluid sludge
3 3 through the side opening is controlled by vertical adjustment of the position of
3 4 the side opening relative to the upper liquid level existing in the first chamber.
As a another step in the new methods, fluid sludge from the collector
-- 4 --
zone is caused to flow into the conduit means for conveyance as influent to the
2 second chamber.
3 BRlEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
4 A more complete understanding of the invention can be obtained by
reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
6 FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic lateral view, partially in section, of water
7 treatment equipment improved by the inclusion of a sludge transfer system in
8 accordance with the invention.
g FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary lateral view of one portion of the
system shown in FIG. 1.
1 FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary lateral view of another portion of
12 the system shown in FIG. 1.
13 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIME~NTS
4 Referring in detail to the drawings in which identical parts bear the
same identity numeral, the water treatment system 2 includes a first chamber
16 4 in which a layer of fluid sludge 6 is formed on the base 8 thereof during17 operation of the system 2.
18 There is a second chamber 10 in which an influent oE sludge 12 from
19 the first chamber 4 is processed and conduit rneans 14 for ~o~ yillg the
stream 12 of fluid sludge from the first chamber 4 to the second chamber 10.
1 The second chamber 10 may have associated with it various items such as
22 inner chamber 10A, agitator means 10B and drive motor 10C. These ancillary
3 items are conventional in the prior art and do not form a critical part of the
24 d~vices of the invention.
Sludge transfer means 16 within the first chamber 4 colllplises a
6 stackpipe 18 that extends vertically from the inlet 20 at the lower end 22 to an
27 outlet 24 at the upper end 26.
28 Large bubble generator means 28 generates an upward flow of fluid
29 sludge in the stackpipe 18 when its lower end 22 is immersed in the layer of
3 o fluid sludge 6. The bubble generator means 28 and the related stackpipe may31 take a variety of forms as disclosed in U.S. patents nos. 4,187,263; 4,293,506;
32 4,356,131 and 4,569,804, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by
3 3 reference.
34 The top 30 of stackpipe 18 is closed and the outlet 24 is defined by at
3 s least one longitudinal opening 32 in the side of the stackpipe 18 that extends
from adjacent the top 30 downwards along the stackpipe 1~ with a length L
2 The longitudinal opening 32 may be a continuous slot as show in the drawings
3 or a row of holes (not shown~.
4 An elongated, tubular sleeve 34 of length at least D, which includes top
end 36, slidably embraces the upper end 26 of the stackpipe 18. The sleeve 34
6 may be held in position by brace member 37 or any other support
7 arrangement.
8 Means 38 is associated with the upper end 26 of the stackpipe 18 for
g vertically raising and lowering it within the sleeve 34 between a low position
lo (not shown) wherein the longitudinal opening 32 is completely covered by the
11 sleeve 34 to a high position wherein a substantial portion of the longitudinal
12 opening extends above the top of the sleeve. In one preferred embodiment of3 the invention, the means 38 includes a threaded rod 40, threaded bearing 4214 and handwheel 44. The means 38 may take a variety of (li~rerent forms (not
shown), e.g., an unthreaded rod similar to rod 4~ and a hydraulic cylinder as
16 replacement for threaded bearing 42 and the handwheel 44.
A collector box 46 which receives fluid sludge 6 that issues from the
8 upper end of the stackpipe 18 includes sidewalls 48 and bottorn S0 through
19 which the sleeve 34 extends a distance such that its top end 36 is below the
2 o ~ertical height of the sidewalls 48.
21 Means 52 connects the collector box 46 to the conduit means 14 to
2 2 enable fluid sludge 6 received in the box 46 to enter the conduit means 14 and
2 3 be conveyed as influent to the second chamber 10.
2 4 The bubble generator means 28 is connected to a source of
2 5 pressurized air 54 by a tubular conduit 56, a portion 58 of which is flexible to
26 allow the bubble generator means 28 to raise and lower along with the
27 stackpipe 18. The source 54 may be a motor driven compressor (not shown),
2 8 the slipstream discharge from a vacuum pump (not shown) present as another
29 part of the system 2 or any other equivalent source of pres~uli~ed air.
3 o In a typical sludge treatment method using both prior known treatment
3 l systems, as well as those of the invention, a layer of fluid sludge 6 is formed
32 during operation of the method on the base ~ of a first chamber 4 beneath a3 3 body of liquid 60 partially filling chamber 4 to an upper liquid level 62, fluid
34 sludge 6 from chamber 4 is processed in a second chamber 10 and a stream of3 5 the fluid sludge 6 is conveyed by conduit means 14 from chamber 4 as influent
-- 6 --
12 into chamber 10.
2The invention provides il,lpr~,venlents over known operations as just
3recited which COlllpl i~e creating an upward flow of fluid sludge 6 through the4vertical stackpipe 18 by introducing large bubbles 62 within the stackpipe base5portion 64 while the inlet end 22 is immersed in the layer of fluid sludge 6 and
6discharging fluid sludge 6 through elongated, longitudinal side opening 32 in
7the top portion 26 of the stackpipe 18 into collector zone 66 at least a portion
8of which is at a vertical height h above the upper liquid level 62.
9As other steps in the new methods, the rate of the discharge of fluid
10sludge 6 from the stackpipe 18 is controlled by vertical adjustment of the
llposition of the side opening 32 in stackpipe 10 relative to the upper liquid
12level 62 and fluid sludge S from the collector zone 66 is flowed into the conduit
13means 14 as the influent 12 to second chamber 10.
